Editorial: An assault on gun rights

A score of 10-8 resembles a slugfest in baseball or the first few minutes of a basketball game, but in Washington, D.C., 10-8 is the likely vote of any proposed gun legislation coming out of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

In the case of a ban on so-called “assault” weapons by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the 10 Democrats who voted for the proposal this week have a little more explaining to do than the eight Republicans who opposed it.

Feinstein’s bill includes exemptions for current and retired law enforcement officers.

Nothing against our law enforcement officers, but why?

Why should law enforcement be afforded the right to own these firearms, while other Americans will be limited in their constitutional rights?

The assumption can be made that law enforcement officers possess the training and expertise to handle these firearms in a safe and responsible manner. No argument here.

However, a safe and responsible manner means law enforcement (specifically retired law enforcement personnel) will use these firearms only for self defense — a self defense weapon other Americans will not be able to use.

And if law enforcement personnel are afforded this constitutional right, why not members and retired members of the U.S. military?

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, more or less asked Feinstein this question. Feinstein responded with an illogical, if not stereotypical, comment about post traumatic stress disorder being a reason to exclude military members from owning these firearms.

If banning “assault” weapons is considered a legitimate solution to gun violence in this nation, then exemptions that would allow certain Americans to use these firearms for self defense while disallowing this right to other Americans needs to be explained on a constitutional basis.

Off the mark?

Exemptions in the “Assault Weapons ban of 2013,” by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

■ Any weapon that is lawfully possessed at the date of the bill’s enactment.

■ Any firearm manually operated by a bolt, pump, lever or slide action.

■ Assault weapons used by military, law enforcement, and retired law enforcement; and antique weapons.